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While a handful of those players remain, the Phillies are little more than a shell of their World Series teams of 2008 and '09. And they're light years from the 1993 National League pennant-winning group, which was known less for talent than for its great chemistry.

The Phillies, weighed down by age and large, immovable contracts, are coming off their first losing season since 2002 and entering their first full season in the last decade without Charlie Manuel at the helm. In addition to their players performing at peak talent, it'll take good health for the Phillies to return to respectability, most notably when it comes to Ryan Howard and Chase Utley. But perhaps team chemistry is equally important, both in the clubhouse and on the field.

And signs of trouble have begun to crop up during spring training. New manager Ryne Sandberg and shortstop Jimmy Rollins, a former NL MVP and one of the primary cogs in those most recent World Series teams, already became tangled in an altercation of sorts, perhaps because of no more than poor communication.

The 35-year-old Rollins, known for displaying an occasionally indifferent approach, was benched for three games in March in favor of Freddy Galvis, 24, a utility infielder whom Sandberg praised for his "energy and his positive influence."

The manager said "no comment" when asked about Rollins.

This occurred on the heels of Rollins answering a question about the Phillies' spring training struggles by saying, "Who cares? When the season starts, that's when results matter."

Galvis was recently hospitalized with a MRSA infection, a strain of staph bacteria resistant to most antibiotics, and will begin the season on the disabled list.

Sandberg said he wanted to see Galvis get some extended playing time at shortstop but admitted Rollins' comment rubbed him the wrong way when he spoke to reporters after Rollins returned to the lineup.

"I wanted him to clarify that because I wanted to make sure he cared," Sandberg said. "I wanted to make sure he wasn't speaking for the ball club with, 'Who cares?' "

Rollins has said there's a learning curve involved with Sandberg taking over as manager and insists that he refuses to waive his full no-trade clause. He also has an $11 million option for next season that will vest if he reaches 334 plate appearances.

"He's completely different from Charlie from the very onset," Rollins said. "Their personalities. He's pretty much a real quiet guy, he really is. Charlie was a get-in-your-face-with-jokes type of guy. We're still learning him, he's still learning us from this side of it. Being a coach and being a manager are completely different things. You deal with so much more being a manager. So, they are going to be completely different, it's just a matter of learning and understanding what makes him go and vice versa."

One player who's already lauded Sandberg's leadership is Jonathan Papelbon. The Phils shopped the high-priced closer after the 33-year-old reportedly alienated some of his teammates by making controversial comments last summer, including questioning Manuel's leadership and the direction of the franchise.

Papelbon was once considered among the elite closers in baseball, but his velocity, strikeout rate and overall effectiveness have declined since the Phillies signed him to a four-year, $50 million contract two years ago.

"This year, I'm definitely trying to be a lot more of a positive influence and be more upbeat," Papelbon said. "It starts from Ryno. It starts from our manager in encouraging us to stay positive and be upbeat even though the last two seasons didn't go as expected for myself and the rest of the guys in that clubhouse."

Some of the players on this year's team weren't here a year ago, which also potentially muddies the waters when it comes to team chemistry.

This includes the addition of starting pitcher A.J. Burnett. But most notable, among position players, is the signing of outfielder Marlon Byrd. The 36-year-old was inked to a two-year, $16 million contract after resurrecting his career by producing a .291 batting average with 35 doubles, 24 home runs, 88 RBIs and 75 runs with the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates last season. Byrd was originally drafted by the Phillies in 1999 and played for the big league club from 2002-05.

"I think it'll have a great effect," Howard said about Byrd's addition. "Marlon and I, we played together in the minor leagues when I was first coming up. He's been a great teammate. Always been a great teammate. I was happy when we got him back. I know a lot of people were against it or what not. But, a character guy. As far as being a teammate is concerned, very intense. Wants to win. Nobody better."

Outside of the flap between Sandberg and Rollins, it seems everyone in the clubhouse is getting along well so far. And those two appear to have mended fences, for now.

But the Phillies' spring training struggles are easy to dismiss.

The games don't count yet, like Rollins said. Things may be different once they do.